I am having a hard time finding a venue to host a bridal shower for my friend. I have been emailing back and forth with several places over the past few weeks to no avail. I have even called the same venues sometimes to get different prices for the same thing I just emailed with someone about. It’s becoming frustrating to find a reasonable place to host a bridal shower. There are going to be about 40-45 guests coming so we need a space that can accommodate this, but is also reasonably priced. My question for your readers is what are good venues in the capital district to host a bridal shower? I would appreciate any suggestions.

I am looking to do it in January or early February. There are four bridesmaids together and they have agreed to $200 each so our budget is $1000. So we would need it to be under $20 a person really.

I would try to use a church or community center – you may be able to rent a room for a few hours at a reasonable price – and have the food catered in. I recently attended a shower at a local fire house (in its community room) and it was actually pretty nice.

Lakeview in Averill Park, there food is very good and their banquet prices are reasonable, $14 a person I belive for a buffet lunch. The only problem is the room is upstairs, so if you have anyone handicapped or elderly they cannot accomadate them upstairs, there is no elevator.

Well, the geographic ID of Capital District covers a huge area. If they’re near the southern end of the Capital District, my suggestion would be to look just a bit south, to tge northern end of Greene County. I’m going to sound like the tourism office, but we have many venues tgat could accommodate and hit that budget mark. I’ll name two that are near the Coxsackie exit of the Thruway (exit 21-B), but there are many across the line in the “mid-Hudson valley” area. Try Pegasus, and if not, try Red’s. Very nice people at both places, and good food!http://2b8.93b.myftpupload.com/
andhttp://www.redsrestaurant.com/

A bridal party member’s home? A family member of the bride’s home? A church. A community center. A grange. American Legion. Anyone have a family member who belongs to a club? Firehouse. Bingo hall. Then you can put the money towards food and thank you gifts. With catering costs, $20 a person for a venue isn’t much.

The Clifton Park Elks Lodge puts on great showers and small gatherings. They are very reasonable on price and work with you on what you want and need to keep it within your budget. They will do as much or as little of the food preparation and decorating as you want.

I held my daughter’s bridal shower at Wheatfields in Clifton Park. We had about 42 people and we did a brunch. The cost was very reasonable and we had an entire room all to ourselves. I would definitely recommend it.

Is there a reason these girls can’t cook the food and put up some decorations? Or hire a small catering company and rent a hall? It’s a shower. Why does it have to be somewhere fancy? It’s pretty lazy if you ask me and doesn’t show much thought. “Here, take our money so we don’t have to put any work into it…..” Just my opinion though.

Margaret, if I had to guess, you haven’t been a bridesmaid anytime recently. The expectations of bridesmaids are far beyond just the bridal shower. And nowhere does the reader ask for a place that will decorate for them. Bridal showers also usually include games and prizes for the winners and the bridesmaids are usually doing the decorations, not the venue. Also, maybe the bride has expressed that she wants her bridal shower to be at a restaurant as opposed to someone’s home. Or, did it occur to you the reader or bridesmaids don’t own a home large enough to accommodate 45 people? Stating that the reader is being lazy and not putting thought and effort into her friends shower is so rude and clearly false since the ARA states she has called and emailed several places, she is clearly making an effort. I agree with some of the other comments that brunches are usually less expensive. Good luck reader!

She’s a bridesmaid, not an indentured servant. She doesn’t have to do anything but be there for the wedding. She’s obviously making an effort to try to make it a nice experience for her friend. People have lives that don’t stop because they’re in a wedding and there’s nothing lazy about getting a venue and catering.

I agree- for brunch buffet it’s around 16/per person and includes eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, lasagna, turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes, juices, and cookies. Includes plain linen too. Downstairs is big enough for that many people and you can decorate one wall which is nice for a banner since most places don’t allow you to tape their walls up.

Settles Hill in Altamont was an amazing shower venue and less than $20 pp. Gold chiavari chairs, your choice of linen colors, nice big room, neutral and beautiful backdrop of the room, bright and airy vibe. I would highly recommend!

I’ve also hosted a shower at McGreivey’s in Waterford. For being on the main strip in Waterford, there is plenty of parking behind the restaurant. They have a nice big backroom that is private and would definitely fit 40-50 people. Food was great, and their brunch package includes a mimosa bar. Also less than $20pp.

I wonder if you could Air B&B a home that w/b centrally located and do a combination of self-made food items and catered dishes, say just the protein and make some simple salads & snacks?

Glen Sanders Mansion has smaller rooms, and they are willing to scale back the menu & try ro accomodate you, but I think this may be a reach. Try Tesoro Cafe on Union St in Schenectady, we hosted a small party there a few years ago, they did a nice job & they’ll close to allow you full use of the space. Gloria is very warm & friendly.

I’m sorry I don’t have better suggestions, w/regards to some of the other locations- I’ve been to Paulo Lombardi’s and the food was meh and the decor was worse, green & pink. $18.50 a person is $15 too much. The Crossings is a nice central location, that’s a good thought and space wise w/b adequate and you could get pretty creative and maybe do a food truck to cater…

Miss Lodema’s Tea Room in Sharon Springs at the Roseboro Hotel (210 Main Street) offers a wonderful location for a baby or bridal shower. The Tea Room features a choice of two soups, scones with jam and clotted cream, a variety of tea sandwiches, decadent desserts, and a wide selection of teas, coffee, or pink lemonade, all presented in best Victorian manner. All of our offerings are made in house and our tea is made with spring water. The price is $18.95 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 518-860-5513.

As a caterer/event coordinator, brunch is the way to go for an inexpensive menu ~ you could do normal breakfast items throw in some fresh fruit, tea sandwiches, mimosas, two punches (one with one without), coffee, tea, one diet one regular soda and call it a day. Try Legions, VFW’s, Firehouses. Typically you’ll have the run of the place so you can set-up and breakdown. Room charges are minimal or if you use a certain amount from their bar, it’s free. If you choose to use clothe napkins and table clothes, they can get them at reduced rates. $20/pp for a brunch isn’t hard to do, especially if you do it yourself, you can also do this the same way with just appetizers and same beverages. Cut the beverage list to avoid costs doing punches, a signature drink or two and a couple of sodas. Budgets can be met!

Martel’s at Colonie Golf Course. They have 2 banquet menus at either $16 or $19 a head. The baby shower I am co-hosting there is in December so can’t say how things turned out, but they seem aimed to please.http://martelsrestaurant.com/catering/.

I threw my friend a baby shower at the Tailored Tea, I let the guests order off the menu and for 14 people it ended up costing me $275 with the tip. The atmosphere is like going to grandma’s house. It’s quaint and girly. I do not know if they would be able to accommodate that many but it would be worth a phone call. I know they have different rooms.

My friends threw me a bridal shower at Paolo Lombardi’s in Wynatskill, I am certain they paid over $20 per person when everything was said and done, but my mother in law and mom also helped with the cost. I would hope this would happen in your case too.

You might want to check out the Iron Gate in Albany, I came across it in my search for the baby shower and it seemed like a slightly out of the box idea. I believe they just started doing parties.

What on earth are you talking about? Business owners can’t charge money for their facilities? Really? They all have rent/mortgage/taxes, utilities, insurance, water/sewer, employment taxes, sales tax, income tax, food costs, employees to pay. Do you think those are all free? Chances are high that you’re not living in your house for free. Same for businesses. Being in business IS expensive!